On today’s date in 1998, the Lark Quartet gave the first performance of the String Quartet No. 2 by the American composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Like much of Kernis’s music, the new Quartet drew upon an eclectic variety of influences.
As Kernis himself put it: “My Second String Quartet uses elements of Renaissance and Baroque dance music and dance forms as its basis and inspiration. For years I’ve played various Bach suites and pieces from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book at the piano for my own pleasure, and I suspected for some time that their influence would eventually show up in my own work.”
The Lark Quartet had commissioned Kernis’ FIRST String Quartet, and, like the composer, were over the moon when they learned the Second had won the Pulitzer Prize for music. Just three months after its premiere, Kernis got the news by phone as he was headed to the airport to catch a flight to Spain. “I haven’t had a martini in years,” recalled Kernis, “but that’s sort of what it felt like.”
Kernis’ Second Quartet was a triple commission from Merkin Concert Hall in New York, Ohio University, and The Schubert Club of St. Paul, Minnesota, and was dedicated to Linda Hoeschler, the former Executive Director of the American Composers Forum.
{"airdates":[{"id":26281,"date":"2020-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2020/01/10/datebook_20200110_128.mp3","updated_at":"2019-11-14T21:25:35.000Z","episode":{"id":8113,"synopsis":"A Kernis premiere wins the Pulitzer","additional":"","body":"On today’s date in 1998, the Lark Quartet gave the first performance of the String Quartet No. 2 by the American composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Like much of Kernis’s music, the new Quartet drew upon an eclectic variety of influences.\r\n\r\nAs Kernis himself put it: “My Second String Quartet uses elements of Renaissance and Baroque dance music and dance forms as its basis and inspiration. For years I’ve played various Bach suites and pieces from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book at the piano for my own pleasure, and I suspected for some time that their influence would eventually show up in my own work.”\r\n\r\nThe Lark Quartet had commissioned Kernis’ FIRST String Quartet, and, like the composer, were over the moon when they learned the Second had won the Pulitzer Prize for music. Just three months after its premiere, Kernis got the news by phone as he was headed to the airport to catch a flight to Spain. “I haven’t had a martini in years,” recalled Kernis, “but that’s sort of what it felt like.”\r\n\r\nKernis’ Second Quartet was a triple commission from Merkin Concert Hall in New York, Ohio University, and The Schubert Club of St. Paul, Minnesota, and was dedicated to Linda Hoeschler, the former Executive Director of the American Composers Forum.\r\n","playdate":"1972-01-10","pieces":[{"composer":"Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960)","title":"String Quartet No. 2 (musica instrumentalis)","performer":"The Lark Quartet","catalog":"Arabesque 6727"}],"links":[{"title":"On Aaron Jay Kernis","href":"http://www.schirmer.com/composers/kernis/bio.html"}],"airdates":[{"id":18438,"date":"2014-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2014/01/10/datebook_20140110_128.mp3"},{"id":19534,"date":"2011-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2011/01/10/datebook_20110110_128.mp3"},{"id":20630,"date":"2008-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2008/01/10/datebook_20080110_128.mp3"},{"id":21725,"date":"2005-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2005/01/10/datebook_20050110_128.mp3"},{"id":23131,"date":"2016-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2016/01/10/datebook_20160110_128.mp3"},{"id":23871,"date":"2017-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2017/01/10/datebook_20170110_128.mp3"},{"id":26281,"date":"2020-01-10","listen":"apm-audio:/composers_datebook/2020/01/10/datebook_20200110_128.mp3"}]}}],"meta":{"start_date":"2020-01-10","end_date":"2020-01-10"}}
Before you go...
Each day, John gladly shares his passion for music with you. The knowledge that he offers, and the stories he shares through Composers Datebook is made possible with your support. Please, take 2 minutes and make a gift today for your 2 minutes of daily music knowledge.
